The Prince's Brides (boyxboy)

4

The next two tents were interviews. The first to determine any talents, skills, education, and work experience I'd had. The second was invasive, prying into my personal life in a way I'd have most adamantly protested had they not had two guards standing close enough that the heat of their bodies warmed each of my shoulders.

At the end of it all, Themquid was no longer behind me. I thought I might have seen him making his way away from the recruitment scouts but I couldn't be sure. Only those let to go home got anywhere near the recruitment wagons, the only means of blending in and walking away from this place. I went to his tent after I ate and gathered up those small things he'd left behind, having nothing of my own to gather up. I made my way back to the mess tent, presenting my clipboard to get back in. I waited there, in the tent, were it was warm, for the entire night. Sleeping on a bench, or at least trying to, since there was now plenty of vacant space.

They had managed to cut a list of thousands of men into a recruitment of hundreds, and, now, further into a single hundred or two young men and boys. I wish I knew how they'd managed to cut the lines down so far. Or how I'd managed not to fail at least one of their damn checks.

I made my way out under the stars, unable to sleep. I thought of my poor little orphaned angles. All alone out there without me. I thought of how they would be peering up at the exact same stars as I am now. How little Addy might cry for me, not understanding why I wasn't there to sing her to sleep. My throat turned dry and scratchy with unshed tears. So I cleared my throat and sang to the stars, praying, that by some magic or miricle my voice might reach their ears.